Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Let’s not start talking crazy,” Forrest tells her.
“You know it’s a possibility. She’s going to get married and maybe even move away one day. There’s not much… variety in this small town.”
“You’re both too young to be thinking about marriage.” Forrest scowls.
“We’re two adult women who are not too young to talk about anything.” There’s an undercurrent of innuendo in her tone.
“You can’t even legally drink,” Forrest fires back at her.
“No, but we can serve our country, we can vote, we can live on our own, have sex and babies, and a host of other things. In the eyes of the law, we are adults.”
I cringe and sink onto the stool. This is not how I envisioned this conversation going. I get what she’s trying to do. She’s trying to make a point that the difference in years between us shouldn’t matter to Roman, but I’m worried it will have the opposite effect.
I chance a look to my right, where he stands to find his eyes on me. I hold his stare until it becomes too much, too intense, and I have to look away. I can’t help but wonder what he would do if I kissed him. Right here. Right now. In front of everyone around us. Would he kiss me back? I’ve asked myself that question countless times over the years, but the yearning to feel his lips on mine has never been this strong.
“No. Nope. Not happening.” Forrest steps back and grabs another beer from the refrigerator. “We are not talking about either of you getting married and having babies. Maybe in, like, ten or fifteen years from now.” He twists off the cap of his beer and takes a long pull.
“You’re delusional if you think either of us will wait ten to fifteen years. We don’t want to be single for the rest of our lives. We want to find someone to love,” Monroe says, and I can practically see the hearts in her eyes as she glances at me, then at Roman.
Her declaration isn’t for herself. Sure, she wants to be married and have kids one day, but she knows that for me if I had a choice, that man, the one to change my last name and give me babies, would be Roman. Not this year or even next, but as my best friend, she knows what’s in my heart.
I give her a soft smile before sliding off my stool and starting to clean up.
Chapter
Five
Roman
* * *
The chill of the night air is masked by the roaring fire. I pretend to be enthralled by the flames, but I’m not. It’s the only way I can keep my eyes off her. Emerson is sitting diagonally from me in a lawn chair. Her bare legs are folded beneath her, and the oversized Everlasting Ink sweatshirt she wears is stretched over them to help protect her from the cold.
“We should play truth or dare,” Monroe suggests.
“Bet,” Legend says, leaning forward in his chair.
“I’m in,” Maddox agrees.
“You know I love me a good game of truth or dare,” Lachlan says, rubbing his hands together with glee.
“Are we teenagers?” Forrest asks.
“We are grown adults who can do whatever the hell we want,” Monroe sasses him.
Forrest grins as he raises his hands in defense. “Retract the claws, woman. Fine, we can play.” He shrugs as if it’s no big deal, and I groan. I was hoping Forrest would shut this down. As protective as he is of Emerson and even Monroe, I was certain he would.
“I’ll go first,” Monroe announces, and none of us argue.
It’s not lost on me that Emerson and I are the only ones who didn’t agree to this, but no one seems to care. I guess we didn’t outwardly object either.
“All right,” Monroe says, tapping her index finger against her chin. She’s sitting in a chair next to Emerson, dressed similarly. Her legs, too, are covered by an oversized sweatshirt. This one has the name of their college on it, and it’s way too big to be her own. “Lachlan.” Monroe grins. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth,” Lachlan answers.
“If you had to kiss one person sitting around this fire, who would you choose?”
“Come on!” Forrest protests.
“Chill out, Huntley,” Monroe scolds him. “This is all in good fun. We’re all friends here and adults.”
Forrest points at Emerson. “My little sister.” He then points that same finger at Monroe. “Pseudo little sister,” he grumbles.
“Not my sisters, bro.” Lachlan laughs. I can’t see Forrest’s face, but I imagine he’s glaring at our friend. “All right, I’m going to have to go with… Legend,” Lachlan says, barely containing his laughter. “Look at those plump lips. Totally kissable. All the ladies are raging about it.”
“Right?” Monroe chimes in.
“My turn. Monroe, truth or dare?”
“Dare.” Monroe smirks.
“I dare you to kiss Legend,” Lachlan says immediately.
“Oh, I’ll give you a full report.” She winks as she stands, stretching out her legs. She moves to stand in front of Legend. He watches her like a lion and its prey as she leans over, places her hands on his shoulders, and presses her lips to his.